Wickersham Receives Recognition for Work with HB 1040

VALDOSTA -- "The Arc of Georgia named Dr. Mary Eleanor
Wickersham, Valdosta State University’s assistant professor of
political science, as “Advocate of the Year.” Wickersham, formerly
Gov. Perdue’s health and human services policy adviser, was
instrumental in passing Georgia HB1040.

The Arc of Georgia -- a non-profit group that advocates for the
rights of individuals with intellectual and developmental
disabilities -- selected Wickersham based on her years of
experience in the area of public policy, and most recently her
efforts towards HB 1040.

“HB 1040 would never have passed without Ms. Wickersham’s tenacity
and knowledge of public policy,” said Arc of Georgia Executive
Director Deidre O’Brien. “She attended every hearing for this bill
and answered all the legislators’ queries”

The passage of HB 1040 provides changes to the Nurse Practice Act,
which allows individuals with disabilities or the individual’s
representative to select a proxy caregiver to perform routine
health maintenance activities.

“Before this law was passed, skilled services -- even daily
services like catheter care, ostomy care and fixed unit dose
insulin injections -- could only be provided by a licensed nurse or
a family member,” Wickersham said. “These health maintenance
activities included routine services that, but for the disability,
a person would perform for himself or herself.”

The selected proxy caregiver must receive training from a
registered nurse and the overall patient care is still administered
through a registered nurse and proper care plan development.

“This change offers an alternative that will make continued
community residence possible for many individuals,” Wickersham
said. “This is a great first step toward helping make community
residence a realistic option for people who need routine skilled
care.”

Wickersham said the process was a learning experience and she
appreciated the cooperation she received from various health care
organizations and other groups.

“We focused on the ultimate goal, to foster independence for people
with disabilities, and that kept us on track,” said Wickersham.
“Even after out group came to the consensus; we had many legal
challenges from physicians, lawyers, and legislators who were
concerned about liability issues for individuals and
providers.”

After months of discussions with various groups, HB 1040 was
approved by the House and Senate, and signed by Gov. Perdue on June
4.